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Synopsis

This unit will investigate the principles of molecular interactions and reactions that form the basis of biochemical processes and drug action. Building on the concepts of chemical structure and reactivity introduced in Medicinal Chemistry I, this unit will examine the structural and electronic features of the most common organic compound classes (including carboxylic acids and their derivatives, aldehydes, ketones and amines) and how these features define their chemical behaviour. This discussion will be extended to molecules with multiple functional groups, including synthetic polymers and the most important classes of biomolecules (DNA, carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids). In addition, the unit will introduce students to the chemistry of metal complexes (coordination chemistry) and their use as therapeutic agents.

Throughout the unit, the patterns of chemical interactions and reactivity emerging from the properties of different compound classes will be applied to the discussion of drug binding, drug action and drug design.

Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

Apply the key concepts in chemical structure and bonding, including functional groups, to rationalising the shape, properties and reactions of molecules.

Predict the products of chemical reactions based on consideration of their reaction mechanism.

Analyse the potential for interactions and reactions between drug molecules, biomolecules and solvents.

Determine the identity and molecular structure of small molecules using spectroscopic, chromatographic and other experimental data.